http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article.asp?UAN=5287&v=1
01 / 05 / 08
Torch Fiasco Underlines Tibet Repression
By Jon
Somewhat ironically, given that the whole affair is an almighty
publicity stunt, the world's media is re****ting that the whereabouts
of the Olympic torch on Everest are shrouded in mystery.
On the one hand, the torch - or one torch - has arrived on Chinese
soil in Hong Kong today, Thursday 1 May, on the other, a second torch
is believed to be 'somewhere on Everest' as a Chinese mountaineering
team prepare to carry it to the highest point on earth.
The second flame is apparently housed in a lantern, which will allow
the Chinese to light a specially designed high alttude torch on the
summit. The Guardian re****ts that Chinese TV says that the Chinese
have set up a staging post at 8,300 metres in preparation for a summit
bid, but that savage winds high on the mountain are delaying any
attempt over the next few days.
Everest viewed from Base Camp on the Tibetan side -
by Normclimb from the OM Gallery.
If the CCTV story is to be believed, the flame arrived at the mountain
on Sunday and the special torches designed to cope with the low oxygen
content, reduced pressure and low temperatures toook over 1000 hours
to design and test.
Various sources re****t that western journalists taken to base camp on
the Tibetan side are being kept very much in the dark with the Chinese
apparently keeping the whereabouts of the flame a closely-guarded
secret and wanting publicity only when the mountain is successfully
climbed.
Meanwhile, with the Tibetan side of the mountain closed to
international climbers, expeditions In Nepal are apparently expected
to be barred from the mountain from today, Thursday. MountEverest.net
says that teams are retreating to base camp or even lower down the
Khumbu Valley.
The BBC meanwhile re****ts that Everest Base Camp on the Nepal side is
now closed to all foreigners not intending to climb the mountain as
Nepal submits to Chinese pressure. By doing so, they hope to minimise
the chances of any anti-Chinese protests in the area.
One team they quote suggests that the Chinese may intend to summit
over the next few days though this contradicts the re****t in the
Guardian.
At any rate, the secrecy surrounding the progress of the Olympic flame
on Everest and the draconian measures surrounding it underlines the
nature of the Chinese regime and its repressive policy towards Tibet.
If this charade is supposed to promote the illusion of China as a free
and open society, then it's backfired spectacularly.
More information about the Chinese repression in Tibet at
www.freetibet.org
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